Buying Another E30

[skool]

Hey guys, my best friend informed me that one of his friends at school is selling a 1989 325i coupe, from how my friend described it.
I currently drive my parent's 1989 325i Sedan.

It's for sale for $800
All I know is that the car is stick-shift and it has 101, xxx miles on it and it's Red. And from what my best friend says, its in excellent condition.

My friend is going to give him my number tomorrow so I can discuss about the car and get more info.

My questions are:

Is it worth paying that much for it?
Is it a good car to learn stick-shift on? because I don't know stick.

Thank You in Advance.

 

[mjbst111]

800?!?!?! with 101K MILES!?!?!?

If you don't buy it i'm driving cross country for it (ok probably not really). If it truely is in excellent condition that is a steal. check out how much those are going on autotrader. prolly 3-4K My jealousy knows no bounds. I'd slap a LSD in there and the sport seats. mmmm. If only i could find such a deal in pittsburgh. I'm really looking for an e30 project.

 

[Big Daddy]

Michael is correct, if this car is even in fair condition it is worth $800.00! I have seen e30 parts cars sell for that amount. Buy it or let Michael have it!

 

[epj3]

Yup I even parted out my wrecked E30 for over $1200. So I would definitely get it.

 

[SwadePM]

buying an e30 will be the best thing that ever happened to you. I promise.

 

[skool]

lol dont worry guys I'm gonna buy it most probably when I go to check it out maybe this Thursday or next weekend.
The only problem is I don't know how to drive stick =/ , so I won't be able to test drive it myself. I'm going to have my friend who has an Integra Type R test drive it for me and tell me whether its good or not.

But either way if nothing is wrong with it I'm going to buy it, because like u guys said I can part it out and make some money off it.

I'll post back soon with more info.

Thanks for the help and Take Care.

 

[jrt67ss350]

If nothing is wrong with it, buy it and drive it. These are great cars and a hell of a lot of fun to drive.

Buy it and part it out? What a waste if the car is in good shape.

 

[skool]

If nothing is wrong with it, buy it and drive it. These are great cars and a hell of a lot of fun to drive.

Buy it and part it out? What a waste if the car is in good shape.

No I'm saying if there is something wrong with it, then I will part it out because my parents are going to give me the E30 sedan, but I want a stick shift car as well.
If I don't part it out, I guess I can make this a project car.

What mods should I buy for the E30?

 

[bahnstormer]

suspension first
turbo next
body last

 

[epj3]

suspension first
turbo next
body last

I disagree,

general tune-up first (these old E30's DEFINITELY benefit from a good tuneup...!!)
brakes
suspension
then whatever power mods and body.

 

[skool]

My friend talked more with the guy today and checked out the car himself.
And there's good and bad news =/

the good news is the interior and exterior of the car are in excellent condition.
the bad news is it has 190, xxx miles. not 101, xxx. =(

is it still worth paying $800 - 1000 dollars for?

 

[epj3]

190,000 miles is half its life. Would you refuse to buy a corvette with 50,000 miles? Nope.

 

[skool]

190,000 miles is half its life. Would you refuse to buy a corvette with 50,000 miles? Nope.

so u think its not worth paying $800 - 1000 dollars for?

 

[mjbst111]

so where is the bad news? ship it to me immediately if it is in excellent condition.

so you'll have to replace a few parts soon but still for 800 it can't be beat.

 

[skool]

so where is the bad news? ship it to me immediately if it is in excellent condition.

so you'll have to replace a few parts soon but still for 800 it can't be beat.

lol you really want this one dont u?

Well I found out that the guy raised the price up to $1000 dollars
How can I make sure the engine is in good shape/condition?
Any tests or anything?

 

[nadroj]

wow just tell me where this car is

 

[jrt67ss350]

I paid $1500 for my '87 with 250,000 miles and not so great paint. I have 295,000 miles on it now, and it still runs like the day it was built.

190,000 miles? The car is just getting broken in.

 

[epj3]

so u think its not worth paying $800 - 1000 dollars for?

No I think it's ABSOLUTELY worth it

 

[echothreezero]

Mods? get the car first before worrying about mods, THEN...

1) Learn to drive a stick shift - putting a manual in an e30 is the best performance mod you can do other than turbo or re-power.

2) Learn to drive - I don't mean make the car go I mean drive properly. Go to some driver trainings at your nearest car club track day/driver training. They'll teach you how to get the most out of your car, how to control slides and how to choose the best lines, work the gears and utlise the characteersitics of your car to make it go as fast as it can. That way you won't kill yourself in it because you'll know how to control it and when you do make performance mods they won't be wasted on your crap driving.

3) K&N Panel airfilter, fluid change, coolant flush etc i.e. - protect your investment before you waste money on making it go better.

4) Suspension - drop it 1-2 inches and put decent sport shocks in it, maybe add a rear sway bar.

5) then whatever you want.